Tim Cook Steps Down as Apple CEO, John Ternus to Succeed in September 2026

The biggest news in the Apple world this week is the announcement that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive officer, with John Ternus set to take over the role effective September 1, 2026.

Cook will continue serving as CEO through the summer to ensure a smooth transition, after which he will become Apple’s executive chairman. In that role, he will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.

John Ternus, currently senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, has been at Apple for 25 years and has worked on essentially every major product the company has released, including every generation of the iPad, many generations of the iPhone, and the launch of AirPods and the Apple Watch.

The transition follows a thoughtful, long-term succession planning process and was approved unanimously by Apple’s Board of Directors. Cook described the announcement as the end of “the greatest privilege of my life” and expressed confidence in Ternus’s ability to lead Apple into the future.

In related news, Apple’s current chip chief Johny Srouji will take on an expanded role as Chief Hardware Officer, adding oversight of the Hardware Engineering group that previously reported to John Ternus to his existing responsibilities with Apple’s Hardware Technologies group.

iPhone 18 Pro Color Options Revealed

A recent report from Macworld, based on a source familiar with Apple’s supply chain, has revealed the color options Apple is planning for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The signature new color for this year’s Pro models will be Dark Cherry, a deep wine-like red that is closer to wine than a brighter red.

According to the report, Apple has been working on four color options for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, with the following Pantone codes said to be in use internally:

• Light Blue (Pantone 2121), resembling the current iPhone 17’s Mist Blue
• Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076), the headline new color
• Dark Gray (Pantone 426C)
• Silver (Pantone 427C), similar to the current generation

MacBook Pro and Mac Studio Launch Timing Affected by Chip Shortage

The global memory chip shortage may result in the next MacBook Pro and Mac Studio models launching later than expected. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has stated that 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with a touch screen are slated to launch in late 2026 to early 2027, but the chip shortage could push availability toward the end of that timeframe, making early 2027 more likely than late 2026.

Gurman previously expected a new Mac Studio to launch around the middle of 2026, potentially announced at WWDC 2026 in June. However, he now reports that sources within Apple believe the next Mac Studio models will not ship until around October 2026 due to the ongoing chip shortage.

iPhone 18 Specifications May Be Downgraded to Cut Costs

A leaker known as “Fixed Focus Digital” claimed on Weibo that Apple is downgrading the planned specifications of the standard iPhone 18 to cut costs, bringing it more in line with the low-cost iPhone 18e model. The changes are described as a cost-cutting measure that will effectively align the iPhone 18 with the 18e model.

Follow-up posts from the leaker indicated that the iPhone 18 is likely to see downgrades to the display and main chip compared to Apple’s original plans.

iOS 27 to Drop Support for Older iPhone Models

According to Instant Digital, a known Apple leaker on Weibo, iOS 27 will be compatible with the iPhone 12 series and newer. If accurate, this means iOS 27 will drop support for the following iPhone models, although they will continue to receive iOS 26 security updates for at least a few years:

• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)

macOS 27 to End Support for Intel-Based Macs

During Apple’s Platforms State of the Union segment at WWDC 2025, the company revealed that macOS 26 Tahoe is the final major macOS version for Intel-based Macs. The upcoming macOS 27 release will be compatible only with Apple silicon Macs, meaning users will need a Mac with an M-series chip or a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip to install the software update.

macOS 27 should be available in beta starting in June 2026, with a wide release likely in September 2026.